Marlborough-based Paul Millen has been named Forester of the Year, by the New Zealand Institute of Forestry, for his work over 18 years researching eucalypts.
Initially to he was keen to develop durable untreated posts for his region's vineyards, as a replacement for pine.
Today Paul is project manager of the New Zealand Dryland Forests Initiative , which has more than 30 stands from Northland to north Canterbury, providing quality hard timber to regional industries, including furniture makers.
Paul has been granted $9m in research funding, and over a few decades has worked with the University of Canterbury's School of Forestry and the Ngai Tahu owned seed producer Proseed on a state-of-the art propagation nursery.
Paul lives on a forestry block in the Marlborough Sounds, which he planted with his brother Ash.
